Kevin Garcia loves to talk about cars.

He loves striking up a conversation with someone even if he just met them.

And he loves the fact he has the second-best average on the Coral Park golf team.

Garcia, a 16-year-old high school junior, is lucky to be alive.

''You watch him play and he looks and acts like any other golfer,'' Coral Park golf coach Ron Rodriguez said. ``Unless you've heard his story, you'd never know he's gone through what he has.''

Garcia had a heart attack when he was only 6 days old after contracting viral meningitis. Although doctors saved him, it eventually forced Garcia to undergo heart transplant surgery when he was 12 years old.

But if it hadn't been for the illness, Garcia never would have developed the love for golf he has today, or the friendship he has with Erik Compton, one of Miami-Dade County's most unique golfers.

`GOLF BACKGROUND'

Garcia met Compton shortly after Garcia had his transplant four years ago at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

''My mom knew his mom and once my mom found out about his golf background, she wanted me to meet him,'' Garcia said. ``Erik came by and gave me an autographed golf bag. We kept in touch after that day.''

They've since changed their meeting place from the hospital to the golf course.

Compton has met with Garcia nearly every Saturday morning for the past seven months at International Links at Melreese in Miami. The two practice at the driving range and play a few holes together.

Like Garcia, Compton survived a heart transplant when he was 12.

Compton, a Miami Palmetto graduate, went on to become one of the best junior golfers in South Florida, an All-American golfer at the University of Georgia and PGA Nationwide Tour member.

Compton recently had a second heart transplant after surviving a heart attack. But after a five-month recovery, Compton is planning on competing in the PGA Qualifying School competition in Key Biscayne next weekend.

Garcia is hoping to emulate Compton's post-transplant success. He is averaging a score of 50 in nine-hole tournaments this season. He played his first high school 18-hole tournament at this year's Youth Fair Invitational. Compton has encouraged him to compete in junior tournaments after the high school season.

''Kevin's already gone through the hard part and come out a stronger person,'' Compton said. ``When we meet up, it's all about golf. We really don't even talk much about his health. After my first transplant, as I got older I got stronger, and I dealt with the side effects better. I think Kevin's starting to do the same.''

But Garcia had to overcome many health setbacks before and after the surgery to get to where he is today.

After the initial heart attack as an infant, he spent a month intubated at Miami Children's Hospital. His parents weren't sure he had make it.

''The doctors wanted to take him to see specialists in California because they weren't sure his condition would improve,'' Garcia's father, Rey, said. ``If they had moved him I don't think he would have made it.''

Garcia, who lives with his parents and his younger sister, survived for 12 years with his natural heart with the help of a pacemaker. But his parents had to be wary of everything he did.

''He couldn't do any kinds of exercise without it affecting him,'' Rey Garcia said. ``He'd get really tired and sometimes he'd turn a shade of purple.''

Added Garcia's mother, Ana: ``He had to watch what he ate all the time. If he hung out with his friends, he couldn't have sodas. It had to be juices, water, Gatorade. He has to be very careful.''

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